Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport bus with National Express

Sat, Sep 19
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The cheapest and fastest buses from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for Sep 19

Cheapest price on Sep 19

€29

Average ticket price on Sep 19

€33

Fastest journey on Sep 19

5 h 15 m

Average journey duration on Sep 19

5 h 31 m

Buses on Sep 19

4

Distance

159 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport will cost around €33 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €29.

Fast buses

On Sat, Sep 19, we found 4 buses from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport, including 4 direct services.

On Sat, Sep 19 the direct buses cover the 159 km distance in an average of 5 h 31 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 15 m .

On Sat, Sep 19 the slowest buses will take 5 h 47 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

  • National Express
    1:05 AM5h15
    Southampton Central (SOU)
    6:20 AMLondon Stansted Airport
    €291One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    11:15 AM5h47
    Southampton Central (SOU)
    5:02 PMLondon Stansted Airport
    €301One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    12:15 PM5h47
    Southampton Central (SOU)
    6:02 PMLondon Stansted Airport
    €341One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    2:05 AM5h15
    Southampton Central (SOU)
    7:20 AMLondon Stansted Airport
    €371One-way
    0 transfers

Travel Information

Compare bus and train for Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €57 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 0m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €57, while a train costs an average of €58.

Distance: 98 miles (159 km)

Compare bus with

Bus
Most popular
Train
Driving

€57

Average price

Cheapest

€58

Average price

€36

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

4h 8m

Average total duration

3h 38m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 0m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 30m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 21m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

National Express

Most popular bus company

South Western Railway

Most popular train company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

The cheapest way to travel from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is a bus with an average price of €57.

This is compared to other travel options from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport:

A bus is €1 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport costing on average €58.

The fastest way to travel from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is by train with an average journey time of 2h 30m.

Other travel options to London Stansted Airport take longer:

Bus takes on average 3h 38m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Southampton Central (SOU) and London Stansted Airport including taking a bus and train.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport among Omio's users.
Take the bus. It's the cheapest way to make this trip, and the price gap is usually bigger than people expect.

Tickets start at around €57 compared to roughly €36 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about €-21.19. The journey takes 3h 38m versus 2h 21m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.

Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport Bus Timetables

OperatorDeparture TimeArrival TimeDurationDeparture daysCheapest price
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
01:05AM
Arrival Time
06:20AM
Duration
5h15
Departure days
Mon, Sat, Sun
Cheapest price
€29
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
02:05AM
Arrival Time
07:20AM
Duration
5h15
Departure days
Everyday
Cheapest price
€37
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
04:15AM
Arrival Time
08:55AM
Duration
4h40
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€49
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
05:05AM
Arrival Time
08:55AM
Duration
3h50
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€66
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
05:35AM
Arrival Time
10:35AM
Duration
5h00
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€68
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
06:25AM
Arrival Time
10:35AM
Duration
4h10
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€64
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
07:00AM
Arrival Time
12:25PM
Duration
5h25
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€41
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
07:30AM
Arrival Time
12:25PM
Duration
4h55
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€63
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
09:15AM
Arrival Time
02:30PM
Duration
5h15
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€76
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
10:05AM
Arrival Time
02:30PM
Duration
4h25
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€45
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
11:15AM
Arrival Time
05:25PM
Duration
6h10
Departure days
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun
Cheapest price
€26
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
12:15PM
Arrival Time
06:25PM
Duration
6h10
Departure days
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat
Cheapest price
€23
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
01:30PM
Arrival Time
07:05PM
Duration
5h35
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€41
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
02:30PM
Arrival Time
07:05PM
Duration
4h35
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€63
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
03:20PM
Arrival Time
08:40PM
Duration
5h20
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
€63
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
04:30PM
Arrival Time
08:40PM
Duration
4h10
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€41
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
06:30PM
Arrival Time
10:40PM
Duration
4h10
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
€41
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
07:00PM
Arrival Time
10:40PM
Duration
3h40
Departure days
Mon, Fri
Cheapest price
€62
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
07:30PM
Arrival Time
11:50PM
Duration
4h20
Departure days
Sun
Cheapest price
€73
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
08:30PM
Arrival Time
12:50AM
Duration
4h20
Departure days
Tue, Fri
Cheapest price
€59

Live departures

Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport bus times

The table below shows live departures for Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport buses for today, Friday, September 18. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
National ExpressNX032 · NX7273:20 PM Southampton, Coach Station
5h20
8:40 PM Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station1 transfer
National ExpressNX032 · NX7277:00 PM Southampton, Coach Station
3h40
10:40 PM Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station1 transfer
National ExpressNX032 · NX7278:30 PM Southampton, Coach Station
4h20
12:50 AM Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station1 transfer
Saturday, September 19
National Express1:05 AM Southampton Central (SOU)
5h15
6:20 AM London Stansted Airport0 transfersDirect
National Express2:05 AM Southampton Central (SOU)
5h15
7:20 AM London Stansted Airport0 transfersDirect
National Express11:15 AM Southampton Central (SOU)
5h47
5:02 PM London Stansted Airport0 transfersDirect
National Express12:15 PM Southampton Central (SOU)
5h47
6:02 PM London Stansted Airport0 transfersDirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport by bus or train

Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25

Why should you book Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport buses with Omio?

National Express operates all buses services from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.

Why book with Omio vs National Express?

  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Buses from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport run on average 10 times per day, taking around 3h 38m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €24 if you book in advance.

The earliest bus runs at 01:05, the last at 11:15. The fastest bus covers the 98 miles (159 km) distance in 3h 0m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
98 miles (159 km)
Average bus duration
3h 38m
Cheapest ticket price
€24
Buses per day
10
Fastest bus
3h 0m
First bus
1:05 AM
Last bus
11:15 AM
Cheapest Month
Feb
Cheapest Day
Thu
High Season
Apr - Jun
Low Season
Jan - Mar
Busiest Day
Mon
Least Busy Day
Fri
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Bus providers: National Express from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted AirportYou can travel by bus between Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport with National Express for as low as €24. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average National Express Duration
3h 0m
Cheapest National Express Price
€24
National Express frequency
10 a day
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.
Learn more about National Express

FAQs: Bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at London Stansted Airport, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap bus tickets from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport can start from as little as €24 when you book in advance. The average bus ticket price for Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is €57 ; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is 3h 0m to travel the 98 miles (159 km) long journey. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport leaves at 1:05 AM. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport leaves at 11:15 AM.
There are 10 buses a day from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport which require at least one change with National Express. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer buses.
When taking a bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport, you can count on National Express for the best way to get you to London Stansted Airport. You can also check all possible bus companies who offer a service between Southampton Central (SOU) and London Stansted Airport and compare the amenities they offer before buying a bus ticket.
A trip to London Stansted Airport from Southampton Central (SOU) is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 3h 0m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport is February.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Southampton Central (SOU) and London Stansted Airport including taking a bus and train.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport for bus company National Express.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Whether you can cancel your bus ticket from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport depends on the bus companies:
  • National Express
    • You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the bus with bus company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
Yes, there is food available to purchase on board the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a bus ticket from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a bus ticket from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport.
You can reserve your seat on the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport with the following bus company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport with the following bus company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the bus from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport with the following bus company: National Express.
Since neither Southampton Central (SOU) nor London Stansted Airport are in the Schengen Area, passport requirements depend on the specific immigration rules of United Kingdom and United Kingdom. Entry and visa requirements can be subject to change. For the latest information, check with your destination's embassy or consulate.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport among Omio's users.
The currency used in the United Kingdom is the British Pound Sterling (GBP). For travelers, using a card is generally more convenient and widely accepted, especially in cities and for transportation tickets, though carrying some cash can be useful for small purchases or in rural areas.
Pack lightweight, versatile clothing suitable for the destination's climate, and use secure, lockable luggage to protect belongings. Keep essential items like travel documents, medication, and valuables in a carry-on bag for easy access. Use packing organizers or cubes to maximize space and maintain order. Lastly, include a small first aid kit and personal hygiene items for added comfort during travel.

More options for your journey from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

Return journeys for buses from London Stansted Airport to Southampton Central (SOU)
Trains from Southampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport
Tickets and more information for coaches to London Stansted Airport

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HomeBusesBuses in United KingdomBus tickets to London Stansted AirportSouthampton Central (SOU) to London Stansted Airport bus

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